No, Microsoft is NOT calling you about your expired Windows license

Q: Got a call from 800-794-1970 saying to call back a 800-596-1758 as my license key for Microsoft Windows has expired and needed to contact them to bring it up to date. I did call them back but hung up before giving them any information as the voice was heavily accented. I do not want to upgrade Windows but apparently I do need to update my license key. How do I do that? ~ Nancy Huffman, Pickerington, Ohio

As for expired Windows, this really doesn’t happen anymore unless you never activated your Windows software in the first place. If you want to double-check whether your version of Windows is activated, go to your Start button and, if you’re using Windows 10, select “Settings,” then “Update & security” and then “Activation.” This will tell you whether your software is activated.

You can pretty much do the same check for older versions of Windows — I suggest typing “activation” in the Windows search area.

However, the “expired” Windows problem did crop up in the year after Windows 10 launched. Microsoft helps troubleshoot the issue on its discussion board HERE and HERE and HERE. Microsoft also has a page with activation tips: “Get Help Activating Microsoft Windows.”

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